Erik - Love your posts and love the research work you did for these fine models, as I am a pleased owner of a Key E5 A/B set. I am also with Big Jim in agreement that the black stripe looks best, as it mates up beautifully with the stainless steel. I grew up in suburban Burlington territory and remember when all the E's began showing up with Chinese Red stripes. This occured more or less simultaneously with the introduction of the Chinese Red SD-24's in May 1959.
Myself and my railfan buddies were steam-crazed maniacs in those days, so virtually ignored all the first generation diesels. But not the E5's! We deemed them "honorary steam locomotives". An absolute high water mark in industrial design.
Please keep your posts coming! Your banner popping up is an automatic click for me!
